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AEV fills the void for a Jeep pickup, will debut truck at the SEMA show

October 30, 2011

The AEV Brute Doublecab is based on the Jeep Wrangler and will be seen at the 2011 SEMA show.

Jeep has been teasing the public for years about reintroducing a pickup to its lineup, fueling the flames in 2005 with the debut of the Gladiator concept at the Detroit auto show.

The rumor mill was in overload earlier this year after the repainted Gladiator was shown to dealers with a message that "you never know what might show up in your dealership someday."

Well, we now know that it probably won't happen at least until the next Wrangler debuts, in three to four years.

Until the folks in Auburn Hills, Mich., figure out whether they will once again build a Jeep-based pickup, American Expedition Vehicles is working to fill the void. AEV's Brute Doublecab will debut at this year's SEMA show.

AEV, based in Missoula, Mont., with production facilities in suburban Detroit, is known for its heavy-duty off-road components and full-on Wrangler conversions which, among other modifications, include stuffing a Hemi under the hood. AEV has a history of making Jeep pickups, offering its Brute package for the TJ Wrangler built from 1997 to 2006. The Brute Doublecab is based on the new Wrangler, the JK.

"This is the most significant vehicle in AEV history," company co-owner Mike Chetcuti said. "The level of design and engineering in this vehicle is beyond anything we've done before."

AEV begins the conversion by stretching the Wrangler's frame. The Brute Doublecab rides on a 139-inch wheelbase, which is 23 inches longer than that of a standard Wrangler. The overall length is nearly 43 inches longer, which includes the 61-inch-long composite truck box. The original steel cab, complete with the two front removable "freedom panels," from the hardtop remain intact.

One of the significant AEV upgrades to the Wrangler is the installation of a 470-hp, 470-lb-ft, 6.4-liter Hemi under the hood. Plus, it has the regular AEV add-ons, including suspension upgrades, steel bumpers, lightweight ventilated hood and 37-inch off-road tires.

"This will not be a work truck," Chetcuti said. "This is a serious overland vehicle with all the off-road capabilities of our other vehicles. This also gives us the opportunity to add a tray bed or make a recreation vehicle."

Chetcuti made it clear that the Brute Doublecab at SEMA is a show car, but the engineering has been completed to start production early next year. He said the goal was for the conversion to add no extra weight to the 4,129-pound vehicle.

No prices have been set, but a full-on AEV Wrangler conversion can top $35,000, and that doesn't involve stretching the frame as they will do for this truck. One could expect the full-on Brute Doublecab conversion to top $40,000.